By Justin Dennis, The Star Beacon
The U.S. Marshals Service has joined the now nationwide manhunt for Joshua Gurto, of Conneaut, accused of raping and murdering a 13-month-old earlier this month.
The marshals are also offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to Gurto’s capture, which could increase, according to Pete Elliott, Ohio’s northern district marshal.
The marshals have circulated flyers with Gurto’s mugshot, description and his recent whereabouts.
(The Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the capture of Joshua Gurto. He’s wanted for the rape and murder of 13-month-old Serreniti Blankenship on Oct. 7. Courtesy of WKYC Channel 3 and YouTube)
“We’ve also got him on billboards,” Elliott said.
“My task force has been very, very good at tracking people down.”
“Sometimes they’ll get away for days, sometimes a month, sometimes maybe a year.”
“I feel very confident that we’ll get him soon.”
Anyone with information on Gurto’s whereabouts is urged to call the Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force at 1 (866) 4-WANTED (492-6833), or text the keyword WANTED along with the tip to 84711.
Tipsters can remain anonymous.
Gurto, 37, is described as a white male standing at about 5 feet, 10 inches and weighing about 145 pounds.
Photos of Gurto being circulated via social media show the man has a misshapen right ear and tattoos on his right forearm.
Gurto has ties to Ashtabula County and western Pennsylvania, according to the marshals.
Elliott confirmed Monday Gurto was last seen Friday afternoon at a Giant Eagle grocery store in Girard, Pennsylvania, and traveling in a newer, gray Ford F-150 pickup truck.
Additional reports from Pennsylvania marshals also indicate Gurto was wearing camouflage clothing that day, and that he was with another white male.
Though reports have not confirmed Gurto to be carrying firearms or other weapons, Elliott said he considers any suspected rapist to be armed and dangerous.
Gurto is wanted for the rape and murder of 13-month-old Sereniti Jazzlyn-Sky Blankenship-Sutley in the early morning of Oct. 7, at an apartment complex along Clark Street in Conneaut.
(Police hunt “dangerous” man accused of raping and murdering his girlfriend’s 13-month-old daughter. Courtesy of The Verge and YouTube)
Gurto is believed to be the boyfriend of Sutley’s 22-year-old mother.
Sutley was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The Ashtabula County coroner’s office ruled she died from blunt trauma to her head and trunk.
Conneaut Law Director Kyle Smith on Friday filed charges and obtained an arrest warrant for Gurto.
Conneaut City Police Department, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the marshals are working together to bring Gurto in.
From Elliott’s perspective, it’s only a matter of time.
“My guys are 100 percent on it,” he said.
“We’re going to make his world very small, and close in very soon.”
